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Feature Articles

In-depth feature stories examining the trends, challenges and innovations shaping the propane and LPG industry.

  • Mobile Truck Computing Enters The ‘Customer Experience’ Era

    Mobile truck computing is headed into its third era, which Aaron Cargas of Cargas Systems (Lancaster, Pa.) calls the “customer experience era.” In today’s customer experience world, the propane industry has tablets at its disposal that have become much more powerful, the user interface is much better than ever, and the capabilities of the devices to communicate to the back office are greatly enhanced, notes Cargas, who is vice president of the company. Cargas will talk about what he describes as the three eras of mobile computing in propane during a presentation titled, “The Evolution of Mobile Truck Computing: An Essential Tool for Propane,” on April 21 at the National Propane Gas Association’s Southeastern Conference in Nashville. He explains that when mobile computers first appeared…
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  • Truck Builder Innovations Thrive In Challenging Conditions

    Propane truck builders have felt the pain of the warmer-than-average winter in many areas of the country, beginning with the winter of 2015-2016 and continuing into 2017. “It’s still a little slow. All of the truck builders I’ve talked to said it was a down year,” said Rob Vandemark, who runs the truck division for Industrial Propane Service Inc. (Byron, Mich.). Speaking to BPN in early February 2017, he added, “It’s still slow taking off this year. I think marketers are hanging on to see what happens with politics, the presidential election, and what [President Trump] is going to do. So we’re optimistic as far as sales.” Roger Smith of Kurtz Truck Equipment (Marathon, N.Y.) agreed with Vandemark about the warm winter’s effect on truck…
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  • Action Alert: Iowa Propane Gas Association Opposes Tax Credits for Geothermal Energy Systems

    Des Moines, IA (March 14, 2017) — The Iowa Propane Gas Association (IPGA) opposes the following legislation introduced recently by the Iowa House and Senate: SF 386, SF 387, HF 122 and HF 123. This legislation would provide tax credits for installing geothermal energy systems. Proposed Senate and House files create tax credits equal to 10% of the expenditures made by a taxpayer for qualified geothermal energy system properties. By creating these tax incentives, the legislature would skew the marketplace to favor geothermal systems at the expense of other fuels, including propane. The IPGA believes the legislature should not pick winners and losers. The IPGA is requesting that propane industry members contact the Senate Ways and Means committee to request a NO vote on SF…
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  • Bergquist, Inc. Sold to Minority Owner, Family-Owned Business Remains In Familiar Hands

    (Toledo, OH) March 10, 2017 — Bergquist, Inc., the industry leader in wholesale propane equipment, recenlty announced that Bob and Linda Barry are now the owners of the company after they recently purchased the remaining shares from previous majority shareholders, Larry and Joyce Hinkley.   The Barrys have been partial owners of the company since 1995 and can be largely credited with the company's success the past 22 years. The Hinkleys purchased KA Bergquist, Inc. from Jack Miller in 1986. That year, the Hinkleys hired their son-in-law, Bob Barry, to be the controller for the company. Barry continued his work with the company for a decade, learning the ins and outs of the industry and furthering Bergquist's commitment to quality and customer service. The Barrys purchased…
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  • Critical Days of Supply May Loom as Stocks Draw Down

    Despite comparatively milder temperatures in most regions this winter, there is nonetheless a risk that the U.S. could reach critical days of propane supply over the heating season. That alert came from IHS Markit at the National Propane Gas Association’s Supply & Logistics Committee meeting in San Antonio, Texas Jan. 29. As February rolled up, Debnil Chowdhury, director of U.S. NGL research at IHS, advised that days of supply stood at 24.9 days, a total below the five-year average. He added that even with primary stocks remaining higher than historical levels, it was no longer a good practice to compare current stocks to five-year averages or even the prior year to determine how long or short supply is. Rather, days of supply should be the…
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  • Propane Autogas Vehicle Sales Outshine 2015 Figures, Continue to Climb

    WASHINGTON (March 7, 2017) — Propane autogas vehicle sales increased by almost 8 percent in 2016 compared with 2015 sales figures, according to data compiled by the Propane Education & Research Council. The more than 14,000 vehicles sold in 2016, comprising light-, medium-, and heavy-duty propane autogas trucks (OEM dedicated or aftermarket conversions), constitutes the most vehicles sold in a single year since 2012. In fact, over the past four years, the total number of propane autogas vehicles on the road has grown by more than 35 percent. As of 2016, there are nearly 200,000 vehicles now being used in U.S. private and public fleets. “We’re thrilled to see so many new fleets take advantage of all propane autogas has to offer,” said Michael Taylor,…
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  • Propane Council of Texas Offers Monetary Incentives to Public Fleets

    Public fleets in Texas can now take advantage of incentives to help lower their carbon footprint in their communities. The Propane Council of Texas, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public on clean-burning, domestically produced propane, is offering funding for public fleets to switch to the greener alternative. Since 2010, the Council has offered incentives for businesses to power their vehicles with propane autogas, and has now expanded funding to public fleets including city, county, law enforcement, and school bus fleets for 2017. The Propane Council of Texas offers incentives up to $7500 per vehicle for fleets statewide for the purchase of new, dedicated original equipment manufacturer propane autogas vehicles, as well as conversions to propane. The program has a perpetual cap of $30,000…
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  • MFA Oil Company Acquires Ford Oil Company

    COLUMBIA, MO (March 3, 2017) – MFA Oil Company, a farmer-owned energy supply cooperative, announced it has acquired Ford Oil Company, an independent retailer of propane and refined fuels with offices in Hornersville and Kennett, Mo. “Acquiring Ford Oil Company and its resources expands our footprint in the Missouri Bootheel, an important agricultural market,” says Jon Ihler, MFA Oil vice president of sales and marketing. “This deal builds on our growing presence in southeast Missouri and provides us with opportunities to better serve customers in the region.” This is third acquisition MFA Oil has made in the company’s 2017 fiscal year, which began September 1, 2016. MFA Oil previously acquired Ozark County LP Gas Company, Inc., with locations in Gainesville, Mo. and Mountain Home, Ark.,…
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  • PERC Doubles Incentive For Quick-Connect Nozzle, Expands Incentive Program

    WASHINGTON (March 1, 2017) – The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) is expanding its Quick-Connect Nozzle Incentive Program availability to fleets and doubling the incentive amounts for applicants. Effective immediately, private fleets and public refueling stations are eligible to apply for the incentive program, which will now provide $100 per tank-side connector and $1,000 per hose-end connector. “The quick-connect nozzles allow for an easier refueling experience for operators and significantly reduce fugitive emissions, too,” said Greg Kerr, director of research and development for PERC. “We’re excited to expand this incentive program to those who benefit most from this newer nozzle technology: fleet owners and operators.” Initially launched in November 2015, the incentive program had only been available to propane retailers. The new double incentives…
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  • Research Shows More Than 700,000 Students Ride A Propane Autogas Bus to School

    WASHINGTON (February 28, 2017) – At the start of 2017, more than 12,000 propane autogas school buses were in operation at public and private school districts across the United States, an annual increase of approximately 10 percent, according to figures from the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). Propane autogas buses now make up more than 45 percent of all non-diesel school buses used for pupil transportation. “First-time adopters of propane autogas school buses are converting entire fleets after they see for themselves the advantages propane can offer everyone involved, from the transportation directors to the bus drivers to the students riding the propane buses,” said Michael Taylor, PERC director of autogas business development. “We expect more districts to turn to propane throughout 2017 and…
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  • Georgia Propane Gas Assoc. Donates Furnace For Hands-On Learning

    BARTOW COUNTY, GA (February 24, 2017) — Move On When Ready students enrolled in Chattahoochee Technical College’s Air Conditioning Technology program at the Bartow County College and Career Academy will now have even more opportunities to work on equipment thanks to a donation from a community partner. Georgia Propane Gas Association (GPGA) donated a Lennox High Efficiency Propane Furnace to the program in an effort to support training efforts on propane gas appliances. The furnace will be used in a dynamic hands-on learning environment, where students are taught how to install, maintain and repair heating, cooling, ventilation and refrigeration systems. “Our hope for this donation is that more HVAC technicians attending your school will graduate with the knowledge of how to service and install propane…
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  • 2017 Southeastern Convention & International Expo Already Outpacing Projections

    The National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) is looking forward to the 70th year of the Southeastern Convention and International Propane Expo, taking place in Nashville, Tennessee, April 21- 23, 2017. Expo numbers are pacing ahead of 2016 in attendance with more than 4,000 participants expected at this year’s three-day event. The Expo is shaping up to be another record-breaking year that already includes representatives from nearly 250 exhibiting organizations. An outstanding line up of more than 40 educational opportunities, including 28 education sessions, eight Technical Workshops in traditional classrooms, and eight Fast Track sessions located on the show floor, will begin at 9:00am on Friday, April 21and continue throughout the weekend. The General Session will once again kickoff with the annual Propane Education & Research…
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